Automotive crane



I May 24,1927. I 1,629,521

R.S.MOORE AUTOMOTIVE CRANE Filed Feb. 27. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 amil l 1,629 521` May 24, 1927. R. s. MOORE I AUTOMOTIVE CRANE Filed Feb. 27, 1922 3 Shouts-Sheetl 2v kaf/2X0? n. I J7 Mayl 24, 1927.

1,629,521 R. s. MOORE AUTOMOTIVE CRANE Filed Feb. 27. 1922 s sheets-sheet s mounted on. the swing-body.

Patented May 24, 1927.

UNITED STATES ROY S. MOORE,

ITOWOC SHIP BUILDING CORPORATION,

TION OF, WISCONSIN'.

F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY HEBNE ABSIGmN'IS, TO mor mANrrowoc, wisconsin, A comonli- .AUTOMOTIVE rGRANIE.

A pplioationled'Februar'y 27, 1922. Seriall. 589,(09.4

motive truck with a suitable source otpower, l

as steam or gas engine mounted on the swing body where the operator of necessity must be` stationed.

It has heretofore been proposed to steer devices of this character in various ways, in some instances by a train of gearing, others xby shifting the steering wheels by hand independently of the movement of the swing body or rotating bed, while in other devices' the steering wheels are moved simultaneously with and by the movement of the swing body or rotatable bed, all of which means of steering have their objectionable features.

An object of my invention' is to provideV improved means vfor operating the steering wheels by a steeringengine, supplying steam to the steering engine from the boiler The mechanism of my improved device is such 4that when the steam is-cut intothe steering engine by operation ofthe control lever the travel power' mechanism is thrown into gear and the mechanism for rotating the swing body or rotating bed is thrown out of gear automatically, or when the mechanism for rotating the swing body or rotatable bed is thrown into gear by the reverse operation ofthe control lever the travel mechanism is automatically thrown out of gear.

I- also provide improved means for starting and stopping the steering power synchr'onously with the operation of the gear shift mechanism for connecting the swing body and travel mechanisms respectively with the power source. I

- It is a' further ob'iect of the invention to provide in a crane of the .describedcharacter improved means for locking the swing body against swinging when the travel mecha.-

vnism is operatively connected to the power In the drawings I have shown an automotive crane which is operated by steam power, the steam for operating the steering wheels being carried by a pipe vfrom the Vsteam boiler mounted on the swing body down through the hollow pivotal connection between the truck frame and the swing body and to a steam engine adjacent the forward axle of the truckfwhich has mounted thereon the steering wheels. The pipe for conducting the steam from the boiler on the swing body to the engine for operating the steering wheels is rigidly supported at its upper portion by the swing body and by supports carried by the truck frame at its lower end and held 'in spaced relation to the interior walls of the hollow pivotal connection between the swing body and the truck in order to prevent noise and chattering caused by the vibration o f the machine when in operation. Around the steam pipe extending downwardly through the pivotal connection andv within the connection I place a'v reciprocating sleeve for operating the throttle valve of 'the steering engine. This reci rocating sleeve is supported and operate by an operating lever mounted on the frame 'of the machine adjacent. the gear 8.0 shifting-lever for the travel and swing body mechanism, which gear shifting lever is car.- ried by the swing body. By this arrangement all ofthe means for controlling the different mechanisms of the device are placed within ready and easy reach of theV operator onthe swing body.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 .is a side elevation View of my improved crane Ywithsome of the parts removed for clarity of illustration. y i

Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the truck frame showingr the engine, with its. correlated parts for operating the steering wheels. Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of my device showing the shifting levers in neutral position and the shifting gear out of mesh with the operating gears, and the worm gear for imparting steering movement to the steering wheels, the truck frame being in section and partof the swing body being broken away. Fig. 4'is a top plan view of the t-ravel gear, the sliding gear and the gear for rotating the swing bed, the latter being shown as locked against rotation.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View of the hollow pivotal connection between the swing body and the truck frame with the steam pipe and the steering engine control passing therethrough.

Fig. 6 is a detail view partly in section Aof the lock for locking the gear for rotatingI the swing body.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the lever with links for synchronously operating the throttle valve of the .steering engine and the drain valve in the steam pipe leading thereto.

Fig. 8 is a top plan detail view of the forked arm for operating the reciprocating sleeve passing through the pivotal connec tion between the swing body and the truck showing the grooved collar` the pivotal meniber and the steam pipe in section.

Fig. 9is a bottom plan view of the forked arm for operating the throttle lever of the steering engine showingl the grooved collar as attached to the reciprocating sleeve and the sleeve and steam pipe in section.

Fig. 1() is a. vertical sectional view taken on line 10--10 of Fig. 8.

The automotive crane illustrated in the drawings comprises a truck consisting of a frame l5, propelling wheels 16 and steering wheels 17. Mounted on the. truckand rotatable about a fixed axis is a platform 1S havingy mount-ed thereon the power :mechanism, such as a boiler 19 and engine 20. and' the hoisting mechanism consisting of a boom and its co-operating devices, a portion of the boombeing shown at 21. a portion of the hoisting cable at 22, and a sheave at 23, suitable braces 24 and 25 being provided for upright support 26, which has at its upper end bracket 27 in which is journalled the vertical driving shaft 28. Shaft 28 has affixed to its upper end worm 29 for rotating the cable drum. The platform 18 is connected to the truck frame by means of a hollow rotatable connecting member 30 and rotary movement is imparted to the platform by means of the toothed gear 31, which is nonrotatably mounted on the main. power shaft 32, and adapted to have reciprocal movement llongitudinally thereof, shaft 32 being operably connected by suitable gearing (notshown) to the crank shaft 33 of the engine. The details of the above described mechanism being well known a more minute description thereof is not deemed necessary.

The steering wheels of the truck are con trolled by cables 34 `and 35 arranged one on each side of the machine, with their inner endswound around drum 36 and their outer ends attached to the front axle-.37 intermediate the king pin 38 and a wheel 17. The

cables being Wound around the drum in opposite directions the rotation of the drum will cause one cable to be paid out and the other to be Wound in or shortened by the drum, thus, imparting a turning movement to the axle carrying the stceringwheels 17. Drum 36 is rotated by a rotary steam engine designated generally by the reference character 39 having a rotary power shaft 4.0, which carries at its outer end worm 41 which meshes with worm wheel 42 carried by the shaft 43, suitably journalled in brackets, not shown, carried by braces 44, 45 of the truck' frame 15. Shaft 43 has mounted on the outer end thereof small gear wheel 43a which meshes with the larger gear wheel 43b mounted on the drum 36. Toothed gear 31 carried by the main power shaft 32 is adapted to be moved into or out of mesh with toothed travel gear 46, which is non-rotatably mounted on the upper end of the tubular driving 'shaft 47. Shaft 47 has mounted on the lower en'd thereof bevelled gear 48 which meshes with` bevelled gear 49 mounted on the inner end of power transmission shaft 50. Power transmission shaft 50 vhas mounted on its opposite end bevelled gear 51 which meshes with bevelled gear 52, carried by the rear axle 53 on which the propelling` wheels 16 are nonrotatably mounted. Frame 15 has superimposed thereon annularly toothed track 54 upon which platform 18 is rotatably mounted, there being anti-friction rollers 55 interposed between the platform and the track. Platform 18 has suitably liournalled thereon shaft 56 which carries at its upper end toothed gear 57 for rotating` the swing body and at its lower end the smaller toothed gear 58, whichlast named gear is constantly in mesh with the annular teeth of track 54. From the construction just described it can be readily seen that if gear 57 be caused to rotate a swinging movement .upon its axis will be imparted to platform 18. To the transverse brace 59 of platform 18, which brace I preferably make of channel iron, Iy affix a spring actuated locking dcviceldesignated generally by reference character 60, and which comprisesa cylinder 61, a plunger rod 62 adapted to have reciprocal movementwithin the cylinder. The plunger rod terminates in a .head 63 having projectlons or teeth 64, which are adapted to engage the teeth of gear 57. The plunger rod 62 has collar 65 affixed thereto between Whichvcollar and head 63 is placed a collar 91 and spring 66, which latter exerts an outward pressure on the head 63. Control'lever -67 is' provided with the usual spring actuated lltl in a well known manner the hub' of the slid ing gear 31 for reciprocally shiftino the gear on shaft 32. Link 73 has one o its ends attached to the vertical arm of bell crank 71 at a point intermediate the pivot of the-bell crank and the pivotal connection of the vertical arm with the link 70. The opposite end of the link .73 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the vertical arm of bell crank 74 which is non-rotatably mounted on rock bar 7 5, which vbar is suitably journalled in platform 18. Vertical link 7 6 is pivotally and then across to support following the carried connected at its lower end lo the upper or horizontal arm of bell crank 74 as at 77 and has pivotal connection at its upper end with valve lever 78 for operating steam valve 79. Pipe 80 leads from the top of boiler 19 through its connecting pipe 81 to the engine 20. Pipe 82 in which is placed valve 79 leads from the top of the boiler 19 downwardly support downwardly and then to Ia point above the connecting member 30 where it is provided with a slip joint and is .then down through the reciprocating sleeve 83 to a point below the frame 15 when it is carried forward to the steering engine 39 and is for` the purpose of supplying steam to the steering engine. Pipe 82 is `rigidly held against movement by thebracket 84 at" ,a point adjacent its entrance into reciprocarried by end of the reciprocating `sleeve to prevent f chattering caused by the vibration of the machine when 1n operation. Rocking bar 7 5 has nonrotatably ailixed thereto two -levers A86 and 87, one on either side and adjacent to cylinder, 61. Levers -86 and 87 have links 88 and 89V pivotally connected to their outer ends, which links pivotally engage two studs '90 carried at diametrically opposite points by collar 91, which operably engages collar end of spring 66..

and bearsadjacent the From the foregoing description 1t will be 'readily seen that if the control lever 67 is moved backwardly .until detent 6 7 engages recess 92 of segment 68 toothed gear 31 will be moved downwardly into mesh with gear 57 by the aetionAzcf shifting fork 71" and that simultaneously with the downward movement of gear 31 rocking` shaft 75 will be rocked clockwise, which will result in moving valve lever. 78 ,to vclosed position by the upward movement of link 76. It will also be seen thatV when rocking bar is rocked in clockwise direction to cut off theA flow of steam from the boiler tothe steering on frame 15. Y =moved inthe reverse or forwardly direction engine 39, that Vplunger 62 will befmoved backwardly in cylinder 61, thereby withdrawing teeth 64 from engagementwith toothed, gear 57.which willl )ermit the platc v chine is travelling 1s rough or uneven.'

be rotated at vwi l' about its axis form 18 to If thecontrol lever 67 be other predetermined position. v

into mesh with toothed gear 46, vwhich operates the travel mechanism` and rockin bar 75 will be rotated in a contra-cioe wise direction moving plunger-62 outwardly of cylinder 61, through spring 66 resiliently pressing teeth 64 of the head of the plunger into engagementwith the teeth of gear 57, thereby locking the platform against/.rotation while the travel mechanism is in operative relation. T he steering .engine throttle control lever 94 is adapted to oscillate shaft 95, which shaft has non-rotatably affixed thereto shifter fork 96,-whieh engages groove 97 of collar 98 'with studs 99, 100 carried by the fork in a well known manner. Collar 98 is affixed to t-he upper-extremities of reciprocating sleeve 83, which extends Adownwardly throughdriving shaft 47 with its lower end protruding from the lower end of the driving shaft, having a collar lOl-similar to collar 98 attachedto the lower extremity thereof. The groove of collar 101 is engaged by studs 102 and 103 carried by shifter fork 104.- Arm 105 which terminates in shifter fork 104 passes transversely of frame y one of its ends, as at 109, to the throttle lever 110 of steering engine 39, and to lever 107 at its opposite end for operating the throttle lever, and link 111is pivotally related at one of its ends to lever 107 and at its opposite end to the valve operating lever 112 for operatingqalve 113 interposed in the lower coursevof ppe 82 in order to drain the pipe and prevent freezing of water which may settle therein as the result of condensation of steam' remaining in the pipe when the steam is cut .out therefrom by the operation of i control lever 67.

From the mechanism just described it will be read-ily perceived that if lever 94 be drawn* backwardly that the reciprocating sleeve 83 will-be'drawn upwardly which will cause lever 107 to move links 108 and 111 in one direction, thereby moving the throttle valve 7and' the drain valve 113 to one predetermined position. while the reverse or forward movement of lever 94 will move the valves to an- Incranes and other machines of the same general character heretofore constructed it Vhas beenA a problem to prevent the swing body which usually carries a large heavy boom from rotating on its axis when the machine is travelling, especially is this the ycase when the surface over which the -m .will be seen from the structure helllin described that when the travel gearjis -th-rown into operation to propel the machine under its own power t-hat the swing body is `automatically locked against swinging movement and that the swing body may be locked against swinging movement by throwing the control-lever when the machine is being towed.

' l. The combinationV with an automotive truck having a steering mechanism, a swing body pivotally related to the truck by a pivotal member and a steam boiler supported by the swing body`, of a steam engine carried by the truck frame, and operatively related to said steering mechanism, a steam conduit passing from the boiler through the pivotal member to the engine, and means carried by the swing body for controlling the throttle of the engine.

2. The combination with an automotive truck of a steering mechanism therefor, a

Swing body supported by the truck, a pivotal connection between the swing body and the truck,- a steam'boiler supported by the swing body, a steam engine supported by the truck frame and operatively related to rounding the conduit havin l swing body, gears carried .by the swing bodyI p swing'body about its pivotal support, a slidy said'steering mechanism, a steam. conduit lpassing from the boiler through the pivotal connection to the engine, and means passingthrough the pivotal connection for controlling the throttle lever of the engine.

3. The combination with an automotive. truck of a steering mechanism therefor a swing body pivotally related to the truck by apivotal member, a steam boiler supported bythe swing body, a steam lengine i supported by the truck and operatively related to said steering mechanism, a steam conduit. passing from the boiler through the plvotal member to the engine, a sleeve surends operably relatedto the t rottle of the engine, and means for operating -the throttle through thegmedium'of the sleeve.

4. The combination with an automotive truck, of a swing body pivotally supported by the truck, a steam engine carried bythe forv transmitting power to the traction wheels of the truck and for rotating the ing gear non-rotatablylseeured to the driving shaft of the engine, and adapted to be `moved into and outo i engagement with the gear for transmitting power tothe traction wheels and into and out of engagement with the gear for ,rotating the swing body,v

one of its,

engaging the traction wheels of the truck with the driying shaftof the engine, means carried b "the swing body for engaging the driving s aft ofthe engine for rotating the 4 -truck, of a steering mechanism therefor, a

swing body pivotally Supported by the truck, a power shaft carried by the swing body and operably connected to a suitable source of power supply, a gear secured to rotate with said power shaft and sli'dable thereon, a series of intermediate gears adapted to be interposed between the first mentioned gear and the traction devices, of the truck, asecond series of gears adapted to be connected with' said lirst mentloned gear for rotating the swing body about its pivotal support, means for operating said first mentioned gearto engage at will either said first or second series of gears or to neutral position, and power means carriedl by saidJ truck and`operatively related tov said steering mechanism foractuating the same.

7. The combination with a steam truck .having traction wheels and steering wheels,

of a swing body supported on the truck by a pivotal connection, a steam boiler and steamengine supported on the swing body, a steering engine carried by the truck for operating the steering wheels, a steam conduit passing from the boiler through the pivotalconnection to the last named engine, A

a valve interposed in the conduit, a gear carried by the swing body for. rotating it about its pivot, a slidable gear secured to the driving shaft of the first named engine and adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the gear for rotating the swing fbody, and means carried by the swing body for simultaneously operating the valve when tlre sliding gear 1s moved out of engagement w1th the rotating gear.A 1

lll)

8.`The combination with a steam .truck having steering wheels, of a swing body supported on the truck by a pivotal con.- nection, a steam boiler and a steam engine supported on the swing body, a steering by the swing body for rotating it about its pivot, a slidable gear carried by the driving shaft of the first named engine, and adapted to be moved into engagement with the gear for rotating the swing body, and means car- 12() engine carried by the truck for operating ried 'by the swing body for Simultaneously operating the valve when the sliding gear is body,

vmoved into engagement with the rotating gear.

l9. The combination with a steam truck having steering wheels and a steering engine carried by the truck, of a swinggbody mounted on the truck and pivotally related thereto by a pivotal member, a steam boilei` and a ste-.iin engine carried by the swing a conduit passing from the boiler through the pivotal connection to the steering engine, a valve interposed in the conduitl for the control of theiiow of steam therethrough, a, gear carried by the swing bodytor rotating it about, its pivot, a gear slidably related to the driving shaft of the last named engine and adapted to engage the rotating gear, means carried by the truck for locking the gear for rotating the steering body about its pivot, and means'carried by the truck for simultaneously operating the valve, the locking means and the sliding gear. l

10. An automotive truck having steering wheels, aswinging body mounted on said truck, a power supplying device having a rotary 'driving shaft and supported by the body truck frame, means operable from the swinging body for controlling said' power supplying device, a worm secured to shaft of the power supplying device and meshing with a worm gear carried by-a shaft suitably journalled-in the truck frame, a gear wheel secured to the last said shaft, a drum carried vbyl the truck trame, a gear secured to the drum for imparting rotary movement thereto and being in mesh with said gear wheel, and flexible means carried Aby the drum for imparting movement to the steer-A ing wheels.

l1. The combination with a truck having a steering mechanism of a swing body pivotally related to the truckrby a pivotal member, a steam boiler supported by theswing body, of a steam engine carried by the truck for actuating said steering mechaa steam conduit'passing from the boiler through the pivotal-member to the engine, and means carried by. the swing for controlling the throttle of the engine.

12. The combination with a truck of a steering mechanism, a swing body supported by the truck, a pivotal connection betweenV the swing bodyland the truck, a steam ,boiler supported by the swing body, gine supported by the truck frame and oper.- atively related to said steering mechanism, a: -steam conduit passing -from Athe boiler throughthe pivotalgine,and means passing connection for controlling of the engine.

13. The combination "with a-truck "of a through the pivotal the throttle lever through moved out of the driving 'the last named engine, the conduit, a gear carried by the swing 105 connection to the cirsteering mechanism,a swing body pivotally related to the truck by a pivotal member, a steam boiler supported by the swing body, a steameiigine supported by the truck for actuating conduit passing from the boiler through the pivotal member to the engine., a sleeve sui'- rounding the conduit having one of its ends operably related to the throttle of the engine, and means the medium ot the sleeve.

14. The combination with a truck having steering wheels, ot' a swing body supported on the truck by a pivotal connection, a

steam boiler and steam engine supported on the swing' body, a steering engine carried by the truck tor operating the steering wheels,

a steam conduit passing from. the boiler through the pivotal connection to the last.

named engine, a valve interposed in the conduit, a gear carried by the swing body for rotating Ait about its pivot, a slidable gear secured to the driving shaft of the first named engine and adapted to be moved into and out otengagement with the gear for rotating the swing body, and means carried by the swing body for simultaneously operating the valve when the sliding gear is engagementwith the rotary gear. a

steering wheels, of a swing TheY combination with a truck having body supported on the truck by a pivotal connection, a

steam boiler and a steam engine `supported on the swing body, a steering engine carried by tlie trucktor operating the steering wheels, `a steam vconduit passing from the boiler through the pivotal connection to a valve interposed in body for rotating it about its pivot, a slidable gear carried bV the driving v'sh-att of the -first named engine and adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the gear for rotating lthe swing body, and 11o means carried by the swing body for simultaneously operating the valve when the slidmg gear 1s moved into engagement with the rotating gear..

16. The combination with atruckvhaving steering Wheels and a steering engine carthe truck, of a swing body lmounted 'related thereto boiler and av ried by on'- the truck and pivotally by a pivotal member, a steam steam enginecarried by the swing body, a 120 steam conduit passing from the boiler 'through the pivotal connection to the steering engine, a valve interposed'in the conduit for the control of the flow of steiinrv therethrough,a gear carried by-the swing body for rotating it about its pivot, a gear slidably relatedto the driving shaft of the v last named engine and .adapted to engage the rotating gear, means carried by the swing body said steering mechanism, a ste-ain 70 for operating the throttle 75 for locking? the Igear for rotating the steering body about its pivot, and means .carried by the swing body for simultaneously operating the valve, the locking means and the lsliding gear.

v 17. A truck having steering wheels, a swinging body mounted on said truck, an engine having a rotary drive shaft and being supported by the truck frame, a worm secured to said shaft and meshing with a worm wheel carried by a second shaft snit` ably jonrnalled in said truck frame, a gear f on'said second shaft, a drum carried by the truck having a swing body pivotally mounted thereon of means for driving said truck. means yfor rotating said swing body, a power device, power transmitting means for con'- nectingl said power device to said driving means or to said swing body rot-ating means, a lockingvdevice co-operable-with said body rotating means, 'and means operatively connected to said locking device and said power transmitting means, in a manner to actnate said looking device to secure `said body aga-inst rotation when the power transmitting means is operatively connected to said truck driving` means, and to render said locking deviceinoperative when said power transmitting nleans'is operatively connected to said swing body rotating means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 16th day 4Q of February, A. D., 1922.

K ROY S. MOORE. 

